Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Has Passport Confiscated

Taco Cowboy writes "The Australian founder of the whistleblower website Wikileaks had his passport confiscated by police when he arrived in Melbourne last week. While Assange has made himself particularly unpopular with the US military by publishing video of attacks on civilians in Iraq, he's been something of a thorn in the side for the Australian government too. Last year, Wikileaks published a list of websites which were to be banned under the government's proposed Internet filter. While the aim of the filter is to block extreme pornography and the like, the blacklist included a number of more prosaic sites such as those of a travel company and a dentist.

Comments

This is Julian

[Anonymous Coward]

I've got just a few seconds to put this message here. I'm imprisoned and they won't let me keep my hair looking super cool!

Re:This is Julian

[alex67500]

King Julian? From Madagascar?

For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[eldavojohn]

While it was returned 15 minutes later

Man, they are brutal down in Melbourne. And from the original article linked at TG Daily:

The Age has been told that Assange's passport is classified "normal" on the immigration database, meaning the Wikileaks director can travel freely on it.

They really know how to shake people up and intimidate you. Sounds almost as bad as my trip through United States customs coming back from vacation. They abducted me for three hours as I was forced to stand in line awaiting inspection and approval. They called it standard processing but I tell you what--it was more of a death march.

Australia would have to be insane to do something like that to Assange. He would trot that out in front of the media for weeks if that was what happened. What a claim to legitimacy. And for that reason I'm guessing this is likely a natural passport process turned into a PR stunt.

Assange mentioned it in an SBS Dateline interview.

So basically Australia said, "We need to renew your overly used passport and the authorities are looking into how you got a hold of a blacklist from our government." <sarcasm>The poor man! When will the persecution stop?! The only way you can only mitigate his suffering by making a tiny donation to Wikileaks.org.</sarcasm>

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Rogerborg]

Well, Ghandi said it best: first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they point out that your passport has expired, then they ignore you again.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[V!NCENT]

First they ignore you
Then laugh at you
Then hate you
Then they fight you
Then you win - you are here

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Thanshin]

First they ignore you
Then laugh at you
Then hate you
Then they fight you
Then you win - you are here

Then you do a FATALITY!
Then the next challenger laughs at you.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Cimexus]

Mod parent up. This is a ~complete non-story~. Same thing happened to me a few years ago with my old and tatty passport. They routinely do this for damaged passports (for various reasons, the primary one being they don't go through the auto passport readers so well). They'll also do this for passports with 6 months validity on them when you enter (most countries do this). The only 'unusual' thing here is that it happened to someone in the public spotlight.

The TFA also includes a massive non-sequitur, mentioning an unrelated case (that was dropped by the AFP) that has nothing whatsoever to do with the passport issue. I doubt the immigration officer concerned even knew who he was.

Can't believe this actually made the Slashdot front page.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[FuckingNickName]

I remember a time when Americans would be bothered by being detained by any government official for more than 0 minutes. Looks like consent's been well manufactured in you.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[E IS mC(Square)]

It's "Gandhi".

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[commodore64_love]

Intimidation, even if only temporary, is still intimidation. It's the rise of Neo-feudalism, where sovereign citizens are being demoted to Serfs that must bow before their new Lords in government.

True the new masters are now elected, but an elected Lord is still a Lord and we serfs are still serfs. Our "rights" can be revoked at any time (see the Renewed Patriot Act and revocation of the right to remain silent). Rights come from our Creator (god or nature) and the Neo-feudalists need to be stopped from turning back the clock 400 years.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[PopeRatzo]

They abducted me for three hours as I was forced to stand in line awaiting inspection and approval.

Pshaw. Here in the US, things are so bad that if you commit a felony, and are convicted, you are not allowed to own and carry an automatic weapon. I don't see nothing in the Second Amendment that says I shouldn't be able to protect myself and my family with the firearm of my choice just because of a little armed robbery.

I mean, "First they came for the felons, then they came for the domestic terrorists trying to kill policemen at a funeral, then they came for me".

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

First they march you through hundreds of miles of jungle without food or water,
then they shoot you,
then they disembowel you,
then you lose.

-- Gandhi, had the Japs won WW2

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

First they ignore you
Then laugh at you
Then hate you
Then they fight you
Then you win - you are here
Then you do a FATALITY!

Better yet, a FRIENDSHIP. As Kitana. Except that the cake is a lie.

Then GlaDOS laughs at you.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[theshowmecanuck]

I accidentally put my last passport through the wash (in Canada you need to get a new passport every five years, they don't renew them). When I was crossing the boarder at the Peace Arch (on Canada's Highway 99, US I-5) south of Vancouver the U.S. border guard raised his eyebrow and asked me what happened to it. I told him. He scanned it and the electronic encoding stored in the passport still worked (older style embedded magnetic strip). He passed it back and told me to dryclean it next time.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Shakrai]

I don't see nothing in the Second Amendment that says I shouldn't be able to protect myself and my family with the firearm of my choice just because of a little armed robbery.

It's not in the 2nd amendment. It's in the 5th amendment: No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[V!NCENT]

Keep trying to be funny. Please do it. I am laughing my ass off... Continue!

Seriously now... Do you think I am trying to trick you with reversed phycology? I don't. Have I ever lied to you? I mean... in this thread?

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[LWATCDR]

So Wikileaks yet again shows the all the style in integrity of the National Enquirer.

But hey I bet they get more donations from this.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[nedlohs]

You found a US immigration agent with a sense of humor?

You truly have great talent.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[sopssa]

Did everyone suddenly skip over the line where it says it will be cancelled?

While it was returned 15 minutes later, Assange said he was told it would be cancelled.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Pig Hogger]

Well, the last one I met at the border insisted to talk to us in (near-perfect) french...

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[postbigbang]

Nice, but this is the US Constitution you're speaking of, and TFA regards Australia, which is still a part of the British Commonweal.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

That was 15 years ago. These days, you're only supposed to complain about "excessive" treatment, for increasingly excessive definitions of "excessive". Enjoy being moderated to oblivion for implying that it's still not quite as bad elsewhere as it is in the US, though.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Rob the Bold]

It's "Gandhi".

OK, First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they correct your spelling.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

US border crossing on the Alaska Highway, nice, welcoming and really curious as to how I got my four reptiles (including 5 foot Iguana) through Canada. And as he gave back the passports and papers he said "Welcome home!"

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[hey]

I wonder if he damaged it on purpose so it would not work in the readers. Just enough wear and tear... nothing obvious. I have been tempted to do that.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[commodore64_love]

Troll? Really? Hardly. He's just expressing his opinion. You don't have to like it, but that's no reason to censor him via subtracting points until his post disappears.

I agree with his sentiment. I was detained in Texas by an "internal security checkpoint" or whatever the hell it's called. I was within 50 miles of the international border, and had never crossed it, but they still wanted to search the trunk of my car. I refused to comply. They made me stand-around while they shined* lights through the window of my car, and then held their ear against the trunk, before finally letting me go an hour later.

Now anyone with common sense could have looked at my Maryland license plus how I was dressed (shorts/Tshirt), and realized I was a tourist not a smuggler. I don't know what they thought they'd find. There's not much room to hide anyone in a two-seater.

Anyway: Rights don't have meaning unless you use them. INSIST upon compliance; refuse to consent to warrantless searches and remain silent.

*
* Irregular verbs are illogical. They should be added to the list of obsolete words. IMHO.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[commodore64_love]

>>>British Commonweal.

Is this the Middle English speeling? Well let me call in me wyf. She war an Anglish taughter.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

First they laugh at your research, then they laugh at your proof, then they credit the wrong person with the discovery.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[DerekLyons]

Can't believe this actually made the Slashdot front page.

I can easily believe this made the front page - Wikileaks is right up there with Wikipedia, Apple, and Google as the Slashdot editor's favorite stroke material. Make it look like Wikileaks is being threatened by Da Man and you have a 'perfect storm'.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[twidarkling]

Now anyone with common sense could have looked at my Maryland license plus how I was dressed (shorts/Tshirt), and realized I was a tourist not a smuggler.

While I congratulate you on your refusal to comply for no reason, I have to point out this is one of the absolute butt-fuckingly stupidest things I've ever read. In your world, do burglars go around in striped shirts and small black masks over their eyes, carrying sacks with dollar signs on them? Do pirates all have wooden peg legs and eye patches?

"I didn't look like a smuggler so obviously I wasn't one." Christ.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Jay L]

It's "Gandhi".

No, he said the other thing about you winning.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[nedlohs]

as he gave back the passports and papers

So he took your passport!!!

I hope you also went on a crying to the media about the abuse.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

He did take my passport! And I was detained by the damnable fascists at the US border, since I was in a "no man's land" between the US crossing and the 20-odd kilometers to the Canadian check point I had nowhere to go!

And thats nothing compared to what happened when I came into JFK from Amsterdam. My passport was flagged and I was detained for an interview!

"Where you coming from?" Amsterdam, I'd been staying in Den Haag but I was in Israel before that.
"Where are you going?" Portland then driving home to Eugene.
"You a Beavers fan then?" Well...Eugene are the Ducks, but I went to Oregon State, so go Beavers!
"Have a good flight."

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

So basically Australia said, "We need to laugh at your incredibly bad passport photograph"

Fixed for most likely reason behind this.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[_Sprocket_]

I remember a time when Americans would be bothered by being detained by any government official for more than 0 minutes. Looks like consent's been well manufactured in you.

Sure - I get annoyed at authority figures inconveniencing me as well. But I don't try to turn them in to conspiracies and over-state the situation if / when it happens.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[donscarletti]

So basically Australia said, "We need to renew your overly used passport and the authorities are looking into how you got a hold of a blacklist from our government."

Well, what the article doesn't mention is how the government conspired to wear his passport out ahead of time. Where was it mentioned that an Australian Secret Intelligence Service agent was hypothesized to have sabotaged the air conditioning system at Changi Airport so the tropical heat would make his sweat run into the pages? Where was it mentioned the secret back room treaties to cause foreign nations to stamp a new page when there is still space left on an existing page? These questions need answers. Next time you look at your passport and see it warped, don't dismiss it as just an arse imprint due to an hour long ride on the Moscow metro with it in your back pocket when it may be your own government out to silence you.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[_Sprocket_]

Now anyone with common sense could have looked at my Maryland license plus how I was dressed (shorts/Tshirt), and realized I was a tourist not a smuggler. I don't know what they thought they'd find. There's not much room to hide anyone in a two-seater.

Anyway: Rights don't have meaning unless you use them. INSIST upon compliance; refuse to consent to warrantless searches and remain silent.

Kudos for standing up for your rights. Having said that - you'd be surprised at what smugglers do. I've seen some amazing photographs of various things smugglers have done to modify vehicles to smuggle people and contraband through these checkpoints. Your common sense may not be a good indication of what's going on at those border checkpoints.

The counter-point to this is that these environments seem to be really fueled by inaccurate risk assessments these days. I'm not involved in this environment so I couldn't say what the real situation is. Those photographs may be more common or entirely odd-ball one-off situations.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[FatdogHaiku]

First they laugh at your research, then they laugh at your proof, then they credit the wrong person with the discovery.

...and award them a patent...

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Smauler]

Just FYI - The Commonwealth of Nations is pretty open, and is not a British controlled organisation. I guess the point I'm making is that just because Australia is a member of the Commonwealth, doesn't mean anything at all about their political and legal system necessarily, at least within certain limits - the commonwealth is pretty forgiving. Basically the commonwealth just needs you to be a democracy (the rules are a little lax), and more importantly have a decent legal system and not be racist. The Harare Declaration is basically all that is needed to join the commonwealth :

* We believe that international peace and order, global economic development and the rule of international law are essential to the security and prosperity of mankind;
* We believe in the liberty of the individual under the law, in equal rights for all citizens regardless of gender, race, colour, creed or political belief, and in the individual's inalienable right to participate by means of free and democratic political processes in framing the society in which he or she lives;
* We recognise racial prejudice and intolerance as a dangerous sickness and a threat to healthy development, and racial discrimination as an unmitigated evil;
* We oppose all forms of racial oppression, and we are committed to the principles of human dignity and equality;
* We recognise the importance and urgency of economic and social development to satisfy the basic needs and aspirations of the vast majority of the peoples of the world, and seek the progressive removal of the wide disparities in living standards amongst our members.

Note the entire lack of accepting the British Queen as head of state. Also, there are two countries which were never British colonies at all which are now in the commonwealth (Rwanda and Mozambique).

The main obvious effect of the commonwealth is simply easier visa and work permit aquisition in other member countries. There's also the commonwealth games, which is (at least in the UK) probably the second biggest non-single sport sporting event.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[linzeal]

As someone who has a few friends who work on the border patrol I can tell you the last thing they want to do is arrest someone, it is a lot of paperwork, going to court and they don't let you work overtime those weeks you are in court like they used to. What, you did not know that is why cops arrest so many people? The sweet sweet overtime, which can double their salaries has made police unions actually protest when they makes plans to hire more cops and reduce overtime.

It is a growing concern that the more time a cop spends testifying per week the more likely he will get overtime, which is a major problem, and not just for budget reasons.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Xaositecte]

What does Algae and seaweed have to do with bad jokes?

I'm wooshing something here.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

"While the aim of the filter is to block extreme pornography and the like," - no, the aim of the filter is to stop you from finding out what the JEW is doing to your country... as always...

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

I remember a time when Americans would be bothered by being detained by any government official for more than 0 minutes. Looks like consent's been well manufactured in you.

You must be a couple hundred years older than your UID indicates!

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Mister Whirly]

you are not allowed to own and carry an automatic weapon.

Actually in the US, even if you are not a felon you cannot own and/or carry an automatic weapon. Semi-automatic is ok, but to own and use a fully automatic you either need to be military or law enforcement. You can rent and shoot automatic weapons in firing ranges, but they cannot be taken off the ranges.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[swillden]

you are not allowed to own and carry an automatic weapon.

Actually in the US, even if you are not a felon you cannot own and/or carry an automatic weapon. Semi-automatic is ok, but to own and use a fully automatic you either need to be military or law enforcement. You can rent and shoot automatic weapons in firing ranges, but they cannot be taken off the ranges.

Incorrect. Ordinary citizens in the US can own fully-automatic firearms. There are some hoops to jump through, but the biggest obstacle is that the things are really expensive. Thanks to a law passed in 1987, it is only legal for full auto firearms that were already in civilian hands in 1987 to be transferred to civilians. So, the supply is fixed, and demand continues to increase, which means that prices are high and climbing. It's difficult to find any functional fully-automatic weapon for under $10K, and many cost as much as a luxury automobile.

As a result, the only citizens in the US who have legal full-auto firearms are wealthy collectors. And they are kept in locked gun safes and display cases, not carried about. Oh, and many gun stores own a full-auto or two to rent for use on their ranges.

Criminals, of course, can import full auto firearms from overseas manufacturers at much more reasonable prices. The street price of an illegal machine gun is one quarter of the price of a legal machine gun, or less.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[gorzek]

Then they sue you for infringing it.

Then they win.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Mister Whirly]

Yes of course I wasn't talking about collector's pieces and such. I am talking about going into a gun store and buying an automatic weapon. It just isn't happening. And the reason most people that own them have them locked up is becasue even though there are loopholes allowing citizens to own them, discharging them is a whole other ballgame. I don't know of any real cities that allow the discharge of firearms in the city limits except in designated areas like gun ranges. I guess that is why the crazy gun-loving anti-government groups seem to have their compounds out in the middle of nowhere in rural states. When you own the 1000 acres that surround you, you are free to do just about anything you want...

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Buelldozer]

Your post is funny, kind of, but there's a few things I'd like to address.

First, becoming a felon removes ALL of your gun rights. Not just the ones regarding automatic firearms. You can't own so much as an air pistol in some places if you're a convicted felon.

Second, becoming a convicted felon is far easier than most people would believe possible. I have an acquaintance who is a convicted felon because of too many speeding tickets. He has a passion for fast motorcycles and on his 3rd 100+ MPH ticket they convicted him of a felony. In Montana. How does a lust for speed justify a felony conviction that removes your right to vote, right to have firearms, and many other constitutional protections?

Third, many felons are non-violent. Your crack about "armed robbery" is both mis-informed and prejudice to the core. There are a lot of people wandering around, I'm not one of them, with felony convictions for bad checks, marijuana possession, speeding tickets, and other tom-foolery that has nothing to do with violent crime.

I understand the humor you were reaching for in your post, but it falls flat when you have some knowledge about the subject.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[PakProtector]

What do Algae and Drill Sergeants have in common?

They both reproduce via fission, like all other bacteria.

Yes, I am aware of the technical incorrectness of the above statement. Algae are not bacteria.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[j-beda]

"I didn't look like a smuggler so obviously I wasn't one." Christ.

That must be in one of the early drafts of the bible, it doesn't seem to be in the released version.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[swillden]

Yes of course I wasn't talking about collector's pieces and such. I am talking about going into a gun store and buying an automatic weapon. It just isn't happening.

Sure it does. If you have the cash, you can go buy one. You have to buy it, then do the paperwork, then wait three months for your NFA stamp, then you can go pick it up. You can even buy one on-line, though you'll have to go to a local FFL to do the paperwork. Here are some to choose from:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/machineguns.html.

Note that not all of the firearms on that page are fully automatic, though all require NFA tax stamps. Many are full auto, though, and you can buy one if you have the money.

discharging them is a whole other ballgame

No different than shooting any other firearm, other than some gun ranges don't allow full-auto fire, because it's hard on the backstops.

don't know of any real cities that allow the discharge of firearms in the city limits except in designated areas like gun ranges.

Typically even small towns ban discharge except at designated ranges. In most states, however, once you get outside of city limits there are no laws against shooting, as long as you're not too close to roads, buildings, etc.

I guess that is why the crazy gun-loving anti-government groups seem to have their compounds out in the middle of nowhere in rural states. When you own the 1000 acres that surround you, you are free to do just about anything you want...

No need to be a member of a "crazy gun-loving anti-government group", thank goodness. Or even a gun-loving pro-government group. Discharge is legal on most public lands in most states, and any pretty much any private property outside of city limits.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[HiThere]

It's also true that many of those may be "official simulations". When the government is the source of news about what the government's doing, it's quite reasonable to be skeptical. When they don't let anyone else check it just increases the grounds for doubting their honesty.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Idiomatick]

I assume it happened before-911. Gaurds since then have turned into total dicks.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[StikyPad]

Or a semiautomatic weapon, or a repeater, or a muzzle-loader, or a firearm of any kind. Also, nearly *all* felons, violent and nonviolent alike, are subject to this prohibition -- for life. (Because as we saw, the fact that their crimes were illegal worked so well in stopping them the first time.) They're usually prohibited from voting as well, and depending on the crime, in where they live, travel, etc.

Honestly, I find these restrictions to be arbitrary, capricious, and make a mockery of the idea of a "free man," who has settled his debt. I'm all for the idea of temporarily (or permanently) removing rights commensurate with the duration of a sentence, parole, or probationary period, but once that's over, the person should have all the rights and privileges of any other person. Adding further prohibitions doesn't prevent further crime; it only punishes those who decide to follow the law.

Furthermore, the recidivism rates for things like violent crimes are insanely low. We'd achieve better results by barring habitual DUI offenders from the privilege of driving for life -- which isn't even a right -- though I'm not away of anywhere that actually does this. (Note that "permanent" revocations are typically 5-10 years in duration. Also, I wouldn't necessarily advocate for or against this idea; I merely find it to be a particularly hypocritical inconsistency which illustrates the arbitrary nature of existing civil rights laws and practices.)

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[captainClassLoader]

Boy, you must look a lot like me. When he asked me that question about the Beavers, I responded: "The lurid angel only flies at dusk", and so got the briefcase I needed for the rest of the mission. Fortunately, (for you and the security of the free world) you didn't know the correct passphrase.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

And now we know Archer/Bond/Bourne/Flint/Xander Cruise/Powers /. screen name.

Way to blow your cover!

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

Yes it does, the gun shop across the road from where I lived in Hillsboro Oregon sells full autos.

http://www.beavercreekarmory.com/

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[psm321]

It's unfortunate that you expected better treatment because of your license plate/looks, and not because _nobody_ should by treated like that without strong probable cause or preferably a warrant.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Mister Whirly]

Yes, but it isn't as easy as walking in with a pile of cash, and walking out with an automatic weapon. You need to be approved for the purchase, or be a registered Class 3 gun dealer. From the web site you linked itself -

Unlike conventional firearms, each change of possession or ownership of a NFA item (silencer, machine gun, short barreled shotgun or rifle, etc.) must be approved in advance by BATF. This includes not only the sale of such a weapon, but also the act of giving or loaning it to another person. Failure to comply can result in a $250,000 fine, 10 years in prison, or both. Silencers may be transported interstate by the registered owner but interstate transport of machine guns, short barreled rifles or short barreled shotguns will require the owner to file a form 5320.20 "Application to transport interstate or temporarily export certain NFA Firearms" PRIOR to transporting the weapon across state lines. Contact your local BATF office if you need further information.

Each time a NFA weapon changes hands, the transfer must be approved in advance by the NFA branch of the BATF. It normally takes 4-5 weeks for BATF to approve the transfer between dealers or to law enforcement agencies, and the transfer to individuals requires 3-4 months.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

>>>British Commonweal.

Is this the Middle English speeling? Well let me call in me wyf. She war an Anglish taughter.

Come now, let's keep our Cockneys to ourselves. There's a good chap.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

Yes, but it is possible, you said "I am talking about going into a gun store and buying an automatic weapon. It just isn't happening."

Anyone who is buying one of these things legally knowns what they have to do and gets their paperwork in order.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Mister Whirly]

Ok, to clarify for the hopelessly pedantic- yes I realize it is possible (but not probable) to buy automatic weapons - however with a lot of restrictions. Currently you cannot buy new automatic weapons, and can only buy fully auto weapons that have been privately owned before 1987. Which is a small percentage of all handguns and long guns out there. So yes technically it is possible to buy fully automatic weapons, but unless you are rich and lucky enough to find someone who wants to sell one, you aren't going to be legally owning any full autos any time soon.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Mister Whirly]

Possible, just not very probably or easy.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Wyatt Earp]

I've been there for three purchases, two Mini-14s and an Uzi carbine, it wasn't that hard with paperwork taken care of before hand and BATF wasn't a pain in the butt.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[AK Marc]

Just FYI - The Commonwealth of Nations is pretty open, and is not a British controlled organisation.

The head of the Commonwealth is the Queen. It was started by the UK. It was originally named the British Commonwealth. All but two of the members were controlled by the UK at some point in time. There is a strong tie between the UK and the Commonwealth. To pretend otherwise is to ignore both the past and the present.

Note the entire lack of accepting the British Queen as head of state.

How many member nations do recognize the Queen as the head? And why not note that the Queen is the official head of the Commonwealth of Nations? It sounds like you are working hard to prove something that just doesn't seem true.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[PaganRitual]

I kill people for a living.

My t-shirt of choice: "I'm an assassin (shhhhhhhh)!" http://www.splitreason.com/product/882

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[E IS mC(Square)]

Offtopic: I am still trying to figure out how my above comment can be either troll or funny.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[mdwh2]

Also from TFA: ...he says he was told by authorities that it was going to be or was cancelled.

Nice selective quoting. I have no idea if the claim has merit or not, but I imagine that was the key point, not your made up selectively quoted straw man.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[theshowmecanuck]

This was in 2004 or 2005. I find the Canadian border guards at road crossings are the biggest dick heads of any other country I have entered. The ones at the airports are decent folks. I have traveled to around 14 countries (doing work in some), and crossed borders by air, car, and train.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[rh775]

I think Gandhi would have been more interested in why passports exist in the first place. and how we can avoid them all together.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[mjwx]

They really know how to shake people up and intimidate you. Sounds almost as bad as my trip through United States customs coming back from vacation. They abducted me for three hours as I was forced to stand in line awaiting inspection and approval. They called it standard processing but I tell you what--it was more of a death march.

AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services) nor Customs do not operate with Carte Blanc like the US's TSA. Once back in Australia (you've gotten passed passport control) you have a legal recourse against AQIS and Customs as you would against the regular police force (Customs and AQIS are part of the Australian Federal Police or AFP). This also means that AQIS and Customs are bound by the rules of the AFP when dealing with the public. You cant be picked up and thrown in a room for three hours without cause, if AQIS confiscates or breaks any of your belongings you get a receipt of sorts.

Section 195 of the Australian Customs act on 1905 describes what AQIS is mandated to do. This also outlines your responsibilities under Australian law, refusal to answer any legal question is an offence, deliberately providing an incorrect answer is an offence under the same law that protects you from AQIS and the AFP.

For example, asking "If you have been to South America in the last six months" is a legal question and you must answer truthfully, but asking "if you had sex on holiday" is an illegal question (also sexual harassment, doubly bad for the AFP) and you should rightfully refuse to answer that specific question with something like "I believe that question is not part of your mandate". Most customs officials will make small talk ("what hotel did you stay at", "was it a nice place" and "did you enjoy your holiday") but this is mostly to put you at ease as they rifle through your luggage and to gauge if you're lying. Adults should be able to use their judgement when answering these questions. AQIS in Australia are more concerned with finding fruit, drugs, weapons and pests then "terrorists" for the most part but for some reason they always take exception to my guitar case when I go through customs (maybe I just dont look like a muso).

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[tftp]

When you own the 1000 acres that surround you, you are free to do just about anything you want

When you own 1,000 acres and attempt to use some of it, shooting at animals may be a full time job - unless you want your land to be infested by rodents and snakes, deer and coyotes and foxes. Wild pigs will gladly dig up your lawns for you, even if you don't ask for that service. The animals are cuddly in photos, but when a fox and a coyote start having a discussion under your window at 3am there ought to be some sort of law and order :-)

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[swillden]

Yes, but it isn't as easy as walking in with a pile of cash, and walking out with an automatic weapon.

No, it's as easy as walking in with a pile of cash, filling out a bunch of paperwork, waiting a couple months and THEN walking out with an automatic weapon. There's a little time lag in the process, but basically if you can legally possess any firearm you can buy an automatic weapon.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[swillden]

Ok, to clarify for the hopelessly pedantic- yes I realize it is possible (but not probable) to buy automatic weapons - however with a lot of restrictions.

What restrictions? Look into what it takes to get an NFA class III stamp and you'll see it basically boils down to you are not a felon, or crazy. Those are the same requirements for owning any firearm.

unless you are rich and lucky enough to find someone who wants to sell one

As many have pointed out in this thread, finding a full auto to buy isn't hard at all. There are plenty of gun stores willing to sell you all you want. Of course, each one will cost as much as a car.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[man1sh]

Well, Ghandi said it best

The correct spelling is Gandhi

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

While I congratulate you on your refusal to comply for no reason

No reason? Seriously? Ever heard of illegal search and seizure? Those of us who enjoy our freedom will not tolerate it.

Oh, I see you're Canadian. My condolences.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[quenda]

Did everyone suddenly skip over the line where it says it will be cancelled?

Since they had said it was damaged, I took that to mean he needed to go to the post office and get it replaced with a new one. Still not nice, as they cost $200!
    Cancelling a passport is like cancelling a lost credit card, not like seizing the account.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

This is a ~complete non-story~. Same thing happened to me a few years ago with my old and tatty passport. They routinely do this for damaged passports.

Thank you Comrade Cimexus. You can now return to your usual job of handing out ALP how-to-vote cards.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

You've obviously never been to Australia or met many Australians.

They're usually so laid back, friendly and chilled out that having your password taken away for 15 minutes is to Australians what gang rape would be to the rest of the world!

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Godji]

Oh please, nobody needs your tags anymore, we have software for that. <sarcasm> tags are yesterday's technology. Literally.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Meski]

So that it could be replaced with a new one. Where's the problem with that?

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Meski]

The ones that look like Family First how-to-vote cards? http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/20/2851472.htm

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[twidarkling]

Way to misinterpret what I wrote. I was actually being legitimate at that part. If you parse that correctly, it says he has no reason to comply, dumbass.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

Now anyone with common sense could have looked at my Maryland license plus how I was dressed (shorts/Tshirt), and realized I was a tourist not a smuggler.

It must have been the Muslim beard that caught their attention. And they listened on the trunk for a tick-tock sound.

Re:For a Whole Fifteen Minutes

[V!NCENT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgP4kT5-9Cc&feature=related

Obligatory Seinfeld reference

[antifoidulus]

Maybe the dentist ran a swinger dental office like Tim Watley.

Re:Obligatory Seinfeld reference

[courteaudotbiz]

And maybe the travel company organizes illegal sexual trips to Bangkok, although I doubt it...

Re:Obligatory Seinfeld reference

[antifoidulus]

That wasn't in a Seinfeld episode as far as I can recall, maybe you should read the subject before posting....

Re:Obligatory Seinfeld reference

[Anomalyst]

That wasn't in a Seinfeld episode

Well it should have been!
Probably would have been funnier than the few I did happen to see.
/so-long-karma

Move along. Nothing to see here

[kentrel]

He has a criminal record. His passport was old. They cancelled it. He got it back.

Re:Move along. Nothing to see here

[Anonymous Coward]

If he's moving about, presumably he's served for any marks on his criminal record, so that should have no effect on his right to leave and reenter his country. I see nothing in the story that says his passport was expired. If it wasn't expired the fact that it's "old" should be irrelevant. The expiration date is when a passport is deemed too old, not some security goon's opinion.

Re:Move along. Nothing to see here

[nedlohs]

The customs agent didn't ask about his criminal record.

The Federal Police Officer did, you know the one who was investigating the leaking of some documents. Bringing up the criminal record of someone you are investigating is pretty damn normal.

The man is clearly a fuckwit who wants to big note himself. Seriously someone looked over his passport because it was showing wear and tear and reminded him it was going to expire soon and that's taking away your passport? A police officer does he job on the same day and that's a huge conspiracy?

Re:Move along. Nothing to see here

[PastaLover]

If it wasn't expired the fact that it's "old" should be irrelevant. The expiration date is when a passport is deemed too old, not some security goon's opinion.

If your passport looks like a rag that's been through the wash a few too many times, then that's also a good reason. Perhaps this wasn't it, but it seems plausible that something like this was the case.

Re:Absolute power

[mwvdlee]

Relative power corrupts relatively?

Assassinated

[SolusSD]

Did anyone else see "Wikileaks founder Assassinated" before taking a second look?

Re:Assassinated

[zach_the_lizard]

It was just a leak that the CIA, Mossad, and KGB managed to fix. Wait! There was nothing to see, now move along! He is alive and well!

Re:Assassinated

[Yamata no Orochi]

Did anyone else see "Wikileaks founder Assassinated" before taking a second look?

No, most of us can read.

Re:Assassinated

[Anonymous Coward]

If you change "Assange" to "Assassinated", then you probably have to change "Confiscated" to "Looted" too. :-)

Re:Assassinated

[LS]

Stay off the ecstasy man

Re:Assassinated

[Lunatrik]

No, most of us can read.

Citation Needed!

Re:Assassinated

[Diamon]

You're Welcome

Re:Assassinated

[Anonymous Coward]

No, I read it as "Wikileaks founder an ass for making a big deal of passport being confiscated for 15 minutes", although that was after I read the article.

Re:Assassinated

[treeves]

Non sequitur. He asked if ANYONE saw that, and you said MOST OF US can read.

Re:Assassinated

[Yamata no Orochi]

Non sequitur. He asked if ANYONE saw that, and you said MOST OF US can read.

Is anyone else tired of people making stupid "lol I misread the title this funny way" posts in desperate attempts to whore Funny moderations?

Remember, I asked if ANYONE is, not if EVERYONE is.

Re:Assassinated

[Anomalyst]

Sorry, no. You are pretty much a minority of one, in this regard.
Like the moss gathering abilities of the proverbial rolling stone, funny garners no karma.

Re:Assassinated

[fishexe]

Did anyone else see "Wikileaks founder Assassinated" before taking a second look?

No, most of us can read.

No, he's right, it actually said assassination before the editors fixed the vandalism.

Re:Absolute power

[Anonymous Coward]

Relativistic power corrupts relativistically.

say goodnight

[FudRucker]

the powers that be eventually will either pull the plug or filter the internet, making the ability to express ideas, opinions and communications among the common folk more difficult. it was nice while it lasted.

Re:say goodnight

[Thanshin]

the powers that be eventually will either pull the plug or filter the internet, making the ability to express ideas, opinions and communications among the common folk more difficult.

And then we'll go back to a feudal monarchy. And then a slave empire. And then we'll go back to the caves.

I think your CIV was one of the flawed copies that played in reverse. Didn't you find it strange that you were the only one starting in Alpha Centauri?

Re:say goodnight

[FudRucker]

communication can always fall back on to HF radio for the better educated, and CB radio for joe sixpack and the ghettos,

Re:say goodnight

[idontgno]

When they outlaw radio, only outlaws will have radio.

Re:say goodnight

[Anonymous Coward]

The ACTA is one chapter of this plan in action. So is "trusted computing". And universal IDs and biometric passports. We all already have "social security numbers" and practically all money is digital. And the next plan is the chip in your cerebral cortex. They say that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

So goodnight!

Re:say goodnight

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't it be simpler to just join the Tautology Club directly?

A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[erroneus]

The first paragraph of the article said it was returned within 15 minutes and informed that it would be canceled... I presume it would be his passport that would be canceled when he returns, but it doesn't say so. Then the article goes on to say the things cited in the summary.

What I am pointing out is that whoever created the summary didn't just "miss" that 15 minutes later detail, they omitted it intentionally.

So I ask you directly, submitter, what exactly are you trying to make happen by attempting to twist the news this way? Have you no conscience at all about spreading incomplete and therefore misleading information? By intentionally omitting that important detail, it misleads people to believe he is being detained in Australia for all intents and purposes.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[FuckingNickName]

Flood the news with trivial stories which cause people to stop taking him seriously?

In other news, BROWN LEAVES HOTEL.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Yvan256]

Of course Brown left the hotel. They have more packages to deliver, you know!

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

So I ask you directly, submitter, what exactly are you trying to make happen by attempting to twist the news this way? Have you no conscience at all about spreading incomplete and therefore misleading information?

Would you expect something less from the illegitimate offspring of Cowboy Neal and CmdrTaco?

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[FuckingNickName]

Dammit, Yvan, you follow me with bad jokes like a stubborn dingleberry.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

Misleading headlines and summaries are pretty much what Slashdot is known for.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Thanshin]

BROWN LEAVES HOTEL.

The bird is on the tree. I repeat. THE BIRD IS ON THE TREE.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[demachina]

Submitter's name is Taco Cowboy. No doubt he is the love child of Cmdr Taco and Cowboy Neal so you should set your expectactions for any submissions from this source low... very, very low.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Yvan256]

I don't really notice who I'm replying to. I'm not following you or anyone, sorry if it feels that way.

Perhaps you have a writing style that makes you more likely to get a bad joke reply from me?

Hey, what do you mean by bad jokes? I'm sorry, I have a cold.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[residieu]

They gave it back to him, but they said it will be canceled. So, he has a passport that will soon be worthless. How is that different from not having the passport at all?

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[amiga3D]

The chair is against the door.....the chair is against the door.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Thanshin]

The chair is against the door.....the chair is against the door.

ffs...

Someone has to tell the prime minister to stop doin... The Bird! I meant the Bird! HGhaaa a.,gd,,

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

*KHHHKHT*
Roger that.
Alert the agents
*KHHHKHT*

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[maxume]

Wikileaks is (probably) busy setting up to do some fund raising.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Pig Hogger]

So has Elvis.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[poena.dare]

I wish they'd let us mod submitters. Sheesh.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[raju1kabir]

For one thing, until it actually is canceled, it's still good for travel. So he can go somewhere else and work on getting a new passport.

For another, all the article claims is that he was told his passport would be canceled. Every passport will be canceled, including yours and mine. There's nothing special about that in itself. If there wasn't some irregularity about this proposed cancellation then it's a non-issue.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

He can get home. Where he can get it renewed. Because it's old, expiring, and in shambles.

Tard. Think before you post.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[canajin56]

Yeah, it sounds like it was tattered enough that the barcode scanner wasn't working. So, SOP is to take it away and inspect it, because the best way to forge one would be to "tatter" the barcode so it can't be scanned. As such, non-scanning passports warrant special attention. Now, are they canceling it because they are jerks? Or because it's tattered and no longer scans, so they're issuing him a new one? TFA doesn't say, and so far, only Assange claims it's been canceled. When questioned, the government said no such thing, they said it's in good standing.

Re:A bit too much sensationalism even for Slashdot

[daveime]

The mouse is under the table, the cat is on the chair, and the monkey is on the branch.

ah, WikiDONATEleaWENEED$600kks

[Anonymous Coward]

It rivals ED in its WE WILL HAVE TO SHUT DOWN IF YOU DON'T DONATE ability to remind you just how valuable their service is and WHY HAVEN'T YOU GIVEN ANY MONEY YET? just what an insanely high amount of money they claim they need to host a few third party files. Yet their site still manages to be down most of the PEOPLE ARE BEING TORTURED GIVE US MONEY time.

Must Have It Rough

[Revotron]

Some people are just natural-born troublemakers, going to great lengths to make a big deal out of every possible scenario. I'd like to see how he acted as a child.

But in all seriousness, 15 minutes? And he's crying and blowing his whistle? I've been detained longer for having a penny stuck in my shoe.

I wonder if he sleeps with a katana.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[The Solitaire]

This is Australia - being stopped by customs for more than the cursory "Hello, papers please. Anything to declare?" would be considered unusual, unless they have actual grounds for suspicion.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[bmo]

I find being polite and pleasant do deal with lets me fly right through customs and immigration wherever I go.

Being a prick, however, will get you only problems even with Canadian customs and immigration. They may seem polite, but they can spot a lying asshole a mile away and then you're hosed.

--
BMO

Re:Must Have It Rough

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not actually a /. member, but as a non-white Australian born citizen with a very high level government security clearance, i can say that after a 6 week trip to the states and UK, which went fine, customs in AU gave me a 30 minute Questionnaire/interrogation with a customs official as a welcome back. i also get the full works on all domestic travel.

fun stuff since 01. not sure how unusual it is for my white compatriots.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[timmarhy]

indeed he does sound like a fucking cry baby. i'd hate to see what would happen if he got pulled over for a random breath test.

we'd probably be reading on /. how the police are harassing him and there would be breathless moments where he thought the cops were going to gun him down.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[FuckingNickName]

with a very high level government security clearance

What part of that did you forget? The danger is rarely from without.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[JustOK]

it wouldn't have been a random stop.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[Anonymous Coward]

Bow and grovel before your TSA and border control masters, and everything will be fine. We know that by "polite and pleasant" you mean "obeisant and compliant" with their every ridiculous demand. Also, I didn't realize that standing up for my right to freedom from unreasonable search made me a "prick", but if so, fine. I'd rather be a "prick" than a pet monkey.

Re:Must Have It Rough

[Anonymous Coward]

> I'd like to see how he acted as a child.

No, you wouldn't. Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrust me. There's a reason he used to call himself "The Mad Proffessor" on bulletin boards.

former subscriber to Suburbia

Re:Must Have It Rough

[PastaLover]

I find being polite and pleasant do deal with lets me fly right through customs and immigration wherever I go.

I once waited nearly 3 hours in line at chicago airport for them to fingerprint me. I don't think being polite and pleasant would've got me through faster.

Re:Absolute power

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Relativistic power corrupts long-windedly, but heavily.

Re:Absolute power

[Anonymous Coward]

Bear power corrupts barely

Penny in shoe?

[rwade]

You were detained for greater than 15 minutes for having a penny stuck in your shoe? What country was this? Was the penny protruding from the sole somehow or were these penny loafers?

Re:Penny in shoe?

[Revotron]

In the good old US of A. I spent fifteen minutes sitting in a privacy screen waiting on a TSA agent to come pat me down (not their fault, it was very busy), and six minutes getting thoroughly wanded and having my "airport-friendly" laptop bag consensually searched.

Re:Penny in shoe?

[Anonymous Coward]

Metal detector? I would imagine it take a while to notice the penny if it manage to set off a metal detector.

Re:Penny in shoe?

[Anonymous Coward]

(not their fault, it was very busy)

... it is _always_ busy, and it _is_ their fault for adding more delays to an already overstressed system without increasing the number of queues.

Plus, the always loved: "You've got 6 x-ray machines, but only 3 active".

Although, it is kind of "funny" watching the TSA in their new role as toothpaste police: "Sorry, even though this container only appears to have 1oz left, it was originally a 4oz container, so we're going to have to confiscate it." (wonder how much Crest paid for that bit of regulation, because you know the behind-the-checkpoint food shops _LOVE_ the "no liquid" rules)

Re:Absolute power

[Moryath]

Petty power - like that wielded by network executives, local police officers, the clerks at your local DMV, and wikipedia administrators - corrupts immensely out of all proportion to the actual power.

Weekly World Slashdot

[autophile]

Next on Slashdot... BatBoy sighted on ChatRoulette, and Cmdr Taco has love child by alien visitor.

Re:Weekly World Slashdot

[amiga3D]

I heard it was a two-headed love child.

Re:Weekly World Slashdot

[rcamans]

Come on, even aliens won't go that low...

Re:Weekly World Slashdot

[fishexe]

Next on Slashdot... BatBoy sighted on ChatRoulette, and Cmdr Taco has love child by alien visitor.

That second one actually happened though...

how is this your rights online?

[timmarhy]

none of this happened online nor does it have anything to do with anything online - his passport had expired and he has a criminal record, they simply took it to verify this. all of 15 minutes. the stupid fuck should thank his lucky stars it didn't take 6 hours the speed most government employees move at.

Re:Absolute power

[Shakrai]

You forgot to include /. members with mod points in your list ;)

I'm becoming...

[fauxhemian]

...more and more dubious about Assange and his intentions. http://cryptome.org/0001/wikileaks-funds.htm

Re:I'm becoming...

[DerekLyons]

Why be dubious? Shutting down Wikileaks in its entirety until the site is 'fully funded' practically screams his intentions from the rooftops. (Though I see now that he has relented and published a handful of 'time sensitive' material.)

Re:I'm becoming...

[tg123]

...more and more dubious about Assange and his intentions. http://cryptome.org/0001/wikileaks-funds.htm

You wouldn't be employed by an american government employee would you? ......... CIA , FBI, NSA etc ?

Re:I'm becoming...

[shish]

Relatedly, does anyone know /how/ it costs $600,000 to run the site? Since it's been offline and collecting donations for as long as I've known it, I'm not sure what it does, but the name implies "a wiki where people can upload leaked stuff", for which I would imagine $2000 in hardware and $2000/year in bandwidth would be generous...

Re:I'm becoming...

[fauxhemian]

Um, I'm unemployed and Irish. Now - would you care to refute the information in the link?

Re:I'm becoming...

[Anonymous Coward]

And another: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/international-man-of-mystery-20100409-ryvf.html [smh.com.au]

"Less convincingly answered by those who know him is whether Assange's quest to reveal secrets is the destiny of man moved by social conscience, or the natural progression of a highly intelligent child raised on the run, who found solace alone on a computer and anonymous camaraderie in cyber space."

Re:I'm becoming...

[Macrat]

Hookers aren't cheap

Re:Absolute power

[hamburger lady]

Mains power corrupts, mainly.

Re:Absolute power

[ffreeloader]

Petty people - like network executives, local police officers, the clerks at your local DMV, wikipedia administrators, /.posters, and the petty people found in all occupations - corrupt themselves out of all proportion to their actual power.

Fixed that for you.

The dentist site was censored with a reason

[mangu]

Wouldn't you censor a dentist that has a sign like this?

Re:Absolute power

[Thundersnatch]

Petty power - like that wielded by network administrators... corrupts immensely out of all proportion to the actual power.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Re:Absolute power

[JustOK]

mod parent down!

Re:Absolute power

[JustOK]

AC power corrupts, then it doesn't then it does then it doesn't...

Re:Absolute power

[nacturation]

Girl power corrupts girly.

Re:Absolute power

[Anonymous Coward]

And the AC/DC can't decide whether to corrupt the young transiently or constantly..

Wikileaks != Wikipedia

[tverbeek]

Why is this tagged "Wikipedia"? Wikileaks is a completely separate site and organization. Do you think that "protons" are "protozoa" are the same thing just because they start with he same four letters?

Re:Wikileaks != Wikipedia

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes.

Re:Wikileaks != Wikipedia

[Anonymous Coward]

No but that fifth letter seals the deal

Re:Wikileaks != Wikipedia

[neural.disruption]

Are they not? They teach you in school electrons roam around protozoa.

Re:Wikileaks != Wikipedia

[fishexe]

Do you think that "protons" are "protozoa" are the same thing just because they start with he same four letters?

No. I think protons and protozoa are the same thing because they start with the same first five letters.

Pretty typical for Canada

[Roger W Moore]

You found a US immigration agent with a sense of humor?

Actually I've found the US immigration and border patrol people you meet in Canada are generally very good and, as long as you do you best to follow the rules, they have all been very helpful. I like to think that being based here means that a little of Canada is rubbing of on them. This is in stark contrast to the ones I used to meeting while living in the US with a green card who frankly seemed to be actively looking for any excuse not to let you enter.

Re:Pretty typical for Canada

[Wyatt Earp]

The Canadians at the borders in Washington were on the rude side, but not that bad.

French at CDG and Orly were by far the rudest, although the women were generally quite good looking. Israeli and Palestinian Authority were nice enough to someone with a US passport, Cyprus wanted to know if I was CIA.

Re:Pretty typical for Canada

[mjwx]

Actually I've found the US immigration and border patrol people you meet in Canada are generally very good and, as long as you do you best to follow the rules, they have all been very helpful.

The problem with the US Customs/TSA is that they have no mandate on what they cannot do. Yes you should follow the rules when going through any nations customs procedure but that procedure should be clearly spelled out for both sides. In Australia AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) has a clear mandate on what they are looking for, you also have a legal responsibility to declare everything that is classified as a Dutiable good, Excisable good or Prohibited (or restricted) good as well as various questions about you and your travels (health, last point of departure, if you've been in certain specified countries, all of this is on the arrival card you fill out). It is a crime under Australian law to refuse to answer any legal questions, but this is the same law that prevents AQIS from asking illegal questions. The US needs to make a law restricting the power of Customs so they can do their job (protecting America's borders) without abusing the rights of US citizens and visitors.

Re:Pretty typical for Canada

[L1feless]

well written. I would suspect there is a reason they have not been mandated yet though. I am not certain what that reason is but it makes sense they should have some boundaries.

Re:Absolute power

[Anonymous Coward]

Corrupt power corrupts corruption?

Re:Developing story

[tg123]

This is a developing story.

The person who submitted this is anticipating the story that will come shortly.

The American and Australian governments would really like Julian Assange and the website he runs to go away.

Some rule in the secrets act will be found or conjured up that Julian has broken.

To the Australian judges, who hopefully read slashdot and will soon preside over this trial BE FAIR !!!

Why did you become Judge in the first place?

Democracy - for the people by the people. Geoffrey Robertson I think your going to be needed here. http://www.geoffreyrobertson.com/

Anonymous Coward

[Anonymous Coward]

Wikileaks has asked for donations worth $600,000 to keep it going. Only the founder Assange knows if he is using the money to fly business class to Melbourne or if it is being used to buy servers. Assange, tell the donors how much of the money is for hardware, network, software and how much are you using for personal expenses. Wikileaks will be stronger if you post the figures and get one of your major donors to audit your expenses. Wikipedia has financial accountability to its donors, wikileaks has none. Every time there is such a media controversy, no one checks if hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations are being used for what they were donated.

Re:Absolute power

[Smauler]

Petty power corrupts pettily.

.will be canceled in front of a cancellation squad

[LostAlaska]

The way the synopsis read before RTFA, it sounded like they had confiscated his passport, after reading the article it's not nearly as crazy, they just canceled his passport and gave it back to him after about 15 minutes... The canceling of Assange in front of a cancellation squad will be later in the week, unless it too is canceled.

15 minutes of fame?

[Roskolnikov]

15 minutes might be long enough to tag the passport with RFID or a a radioactive substance to make him trackable.... :) tin-foil hats need not apply.

A slashdot first for me

[T Murphy]

Thanks to people tagging this story "for15minutes", I got the most important detail about the story from the tags, not from the title or the summary itself. I suppose I can grudgingly accept not editing the summary before posting it, but if the tags are doing the editors' job, it is time to go back and update the summary.

Re:Absolute power

[Anomalyst]

Petty power corrupts pettily.

With or without the Heartbreakers?

Don't blame the story target - slow news day

[dbIII]

A lot of political journalism is really like commentating on a slow sports match and trying to make it sound exciting.

Re:Absolute power

[TangoMargarine]

I'm from Maine, you insensitive clod!

(disclaimer: I'm not actually)

Obligatory Bash.org

[fishexe]

Seriously now... Do you think I am trying to trick you with reversed phycology?

Yes, yes I do. I think this conversation can be summed up like so:

Donut[AFK]: RIPOSTE
Donut[AFK]: ADDON RIPOSTE
Eurakarte: COUNTER-RIPOSTE
Donut[AFK]: COUNTER-COUNTER RIPOSTE
Eurakarte: NONSENSICAL STATEMENT INVOLVING PLANKTON

Guessing you use an ATM machine

[fishexe]

The TFA also includes a massive non-sequitur...

You realize you just said "The The Fucking Article," right?

Obligatory Bash.org

[fishexe]

Seriously now... Do you think I am trying to trick you with reversed phycology?

Yes, yes I do. I think this conversation can be summed up like so:

Donut[AFK]: RIPOSTE
Donut[AFK]: ADDON RIPOSTE
Eurakarte: COUNTER-RIPOSTE
Donut[AFK]: COUNTER-COUNTER RIPOSTE
Eurakarte: NONSENSICAL STATEMENT INVOLVING PLANKTON

Emptying your bank acct...

[Anonymous Coward]

is also a non-violent felony. Should I be able to steal all your money using fake checks on your account? If I speed and crash into your car killing you, but barely scarring myself, is it just tom-foolery?